The Campaign to DorsetProtect Rural England Review Spring 2016 Branch News Issue 106 STAND UP FOR THE COUNTRYSIDE CONTENTS I joined CPRE 20 years ago, and today, Taking proposals as it has always been, planning matters such as these into 1 Stand up for the Countryside invariably pose problems. However, consideration, it could 2 CPRE’s 90th Anniversary Book today planning issues are even more indicate that Councils difficult to resolve given it is increasingly such as Weymouth Council could be 3 CPRE Photographic Competition difficult not only to contact West Dorset reconstituted as a Town Council. Also 4-5 The Sherborne and District Planning Officers, but in that we are during the Councils deliberations, a Society faced with radical changes in Local strong hint was given that power would Government organisation. be devolved down to Parish and Town 6-7 Dorset’s Environmental At a Dorset County Council meeting, Councils. Given these uncertainties, Economy need a National Park Councillors were advised that the the Branch is writing to the Chief County as a whole faced financial cuts Executive of Dorset County Council, 8 Poole and Purbeck Group of around £100 million. In order to face asking for a meeting, in order to ensure 9 CPRE Awards up to this economic fact, changes were that Dorset CPRE continues to play an required, and after a lengthy debate the active part, not only in protecting the 10 Dorset CPRE to Sponsor 300th Councillors came out in favour of the Dorset countryside, but improving it. Anniversary of Capability Brown creation of either a Unitary Authority Here one of the questions we need to Exhibition at Milton Abbey of local government that covered the raise is, ‘how will planning applications whole County, or a Unitary Authority be dealt with?’ Will they be devolved 11 Darker Skies which saw Bournemouth, Poole and to Town Councils, or dealt with by the 12-13 North Dorset Group Christchurch combine as a Unitary and new Unitary Authority on a district by the rest of Dorset constitute the other. district basis. 14 Renewable Energy Generation Here whilst CPRE has always taken an This is increasingly important for apolitical stance, the creation of one or Dorset in that AONBs for example have 15 Green Space, Planning and two Unitary Authorities does raise a real always been considered safe from Public Health question as to how CPRE fits in to the development. However it is reported that 16 Litter Campaign new structure. Such a question arises Dover District Council have now given given that emerging from the County permission for 500 homes to be built 17 Annual Report & Accounts Council debate, it was suggested that in the AONB. To counter this, Kent CPRE greater powers would be given to both have called for a Judicial Review, and 18-19 Minerals and Waste in Dorset Town and Parish Councils. we await the outcome with interest. We 20 National Planning Policy 10 Framework July OPEN DAY AT WATERSTON MANOR th 21 East Dorset Group In place of our own Garden Party 22 CPRE Recent Publications this year we are joining in with the Open Gardens at Waterston Manor, 23 West Dorset Group owned by friends of CPRE. They are having 24 Flooding the event to raise funds in aid of CPRE to assist the local campaigns No Slyers Lane 26-27 Dorset CPRE Membership Turbines and Mapperton Preservation 28 Contacts Group. We hope you will come and visit one of Dorset’s most beautiful gardens in the heart of Hardy country. Please return the enclosed A4 booking form. Protecting Dorset Campaign to Protect Rural England CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Continued from cover page do so, as in the Weymouth area of Littlemore, a large development is proposed that will spill into the Celebrate success AONB. Also as CPRE National Office have identified, there has been more than a threefold increase in housing proposed on We were delighted when in January the WDDC Development Green Belt land, from 81,000 houses to 275,000 since 2012. Control Committee rejected the plan to erect six giant turbines It is given these potential threats, that the work of CPRE is so on the outskirts of Dorchester. Councillors voted 6-3 against the important and on behalf of the Trustees and our Countryside application submitted by Broadview Energy. The application Forum, I give an assurance that we will do all in our power to for the West Dorset Wind Farm was withdrawn in October 2015 defend what is one of, if not the loveliest County in England. following strong local objection and assistance from Dorset CPRE. We are grateful for all the time and energy Dr David Peacock’s has spent in compiling the latest projections for Countryside Forum renewable energy generation in Dorset. We hope you can join us for the Garden Open Day fundraiser Recent guest speakers include John Rowley, CPRENO Planning taking place on 10th July at Waterston Manor. Please come and Officer, who gave a presentation on the NPPF and Dr Paul Kelly meet your fellow members and Dorset CPRE representatives. discussed public health. Please see his article on ‘Green space, Thanks to our members, CPRE has been standing up for the planning and public health: A call for joined up thinking’ on countryside independently for 90 years. page 15. RichardChair Nicholls of Trustees CPRE’S 90th ANNIVERSARY BOOK 22 Ideas that saved the English countryside will be published on 2 June to mark CPRE’s anniversary year. The book has been written by former CPRE chairman, Peter Waine, and Oliver Hilliam (senior communications and information officer at national office), and features a stunning range of landscapes from some of England’s finest photographers, complemented by rarely-seen archive imagery. It gives the historical context for the formation of CPRE and shows the enduring relevance of the big ideas CPRE has championed over the past 90 years. The book features a couple of stunning Dorset photographs by Guy Edwardes. The book will be published by Frances Lincoln in June (rrp £25 with all royalties going to CPRE), but CPRE Members can claim CONGRATULATION a 40% discount by pre-ordering copies for £15. Postage is free within the UK. Telephone 01903 828 503 and quote offer code QPG420 or send the code with your name, address and to Mrs E Stewart cheque payable to ‘Littlehampton Book Services Mail Order Department’ to: who won a bottle Littlehampton Book Services of champagne PO Box 4264 at the Branch Worthing West Sussex AGM. Prize draw BN13 3TG donated by NFU. 2 DORSET Campaign to Protect Rural England – Protecting Dorset CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Continued from cover page DORSET CPRE PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION “Beauty of the Dorset Countryside” Dorset CPRE has decided to hold a photographic competition this year on the theme of the beauty of the Dorset Countryside. There will be a cash prize of £100 for the winner and £50 for the runner-up, and both will have their photographs shown in the Spring Review 2017 as well as on this website. It will be open to all comers so do suggest to your friends that they should all enter too. The Countryside Forum will judge the event on 23rd September and the winners will be announced on 19th November at the Branch AGM. The competition rules are shown below. Please read these before sending in entries to [email protected]/ under the title “Dorset Photo Competition 2016 Entry” enclosing your name and address. The closing date will be September 14th. We want lots of memorable photos of our still unspoilt View westward from Swyre Head countryside, celebrated by Thomas Hardy, among others, with its rolling chalk downland, secluded valleys and rare heathland, and not forgetting our spectacular coastline. Villages, historic buildings and ancient monuments are, of course, all essential ingredients of the Dorset landscape too. Remember photos taken near dawn and dusk, or ones under stormy skies can be very effective. Black & white, as well as colour ones can be sent in and please do not just photograph the iconic sites, such as Corfe Castle! So members and all comers please get your cameras out! RULES of PHOTO COMPETITION 2016 • The photo must be taken by the person entering • We can only accept digital images, both black & white as well as colour Bluebells in Great Coll Wood, Winterborne Tomson • You can enter a maximum of four photos. Make sure the file size of each is at least 1Mb and please do not send any emails with total attachments over 10MB • Include your name and address with each entry • The closing date of the competition is 14th September 2016 • Judging will take place within 2 weeks of the closing date and we’ll contact all prize-winners within 21 days • Dorset CPRE will not accept responsibility for lost or damaged entries • Dorset CPRE reserves the right to use any entry in non-commercial publications and exhibitions, but full photographic credits will be given • No entries please from professional photographers Poppies at Bere Regis • Photos submitted which feature people must be of you or have been taken with the permission of the subject. Rupert Hardy We are delighted with the high quality stunning images we have received so far following the press release in local “ papers at the end of March Campaign to Protect Rural England – Protecting Dorset ” DORSET 3 THE SHERBORNE AND DISTRICT SOCIETY Local Plan part of such numbers. This is a potential cases, i.e. they were not consistent In the autumn review I reported on a threat to the town as we know it – could with policy in the plan yet the planners key issue that had been resolved and we be talking about 2000 additional recommended approval.